Small Business Training Coming to Iron County

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Jan. 5, 2011 — Are you ready to be part of a select group of entrepreneurs who are realizing their dreams of small business ownership? Have you ever wished you could be self-employed? Do you want to Jump-Start a new business idea or give your current business a much-needed boost? If so, you can’t afford to miss two small business training programs to be offered in Iron County by the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Southeast Missouri State University.

The CIE recently announced that two of their most popular training programs will be offered at no cost in Iron County for individuals who are interested in starting new businesses in the area. The first program, a one-night workshop called “How To Start A New Business,” provides an overview of the key elements of success in starting a small business; including legal and tax issues, resources for Missouri business owners, marketing and financial management.

“How To Start A New Business” will be offered from 6–9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at the Public Health Department on Highway M in Ironton, Mo. Russell Humphrey, Small Business and Technology Development Center director, will be the instructor for the one-night workshop.

“How To Start A New Business will help individuals figure out if small business ownership is right for them, and will pre-qualify them to participate in the six-week Operation Jump-Start course from March 15 to April 21,” explained Gina Harper, training coordinator for the CIE. “It’s extremely important for anyone wishing to attend the Operation Jump-Start course to also attend this one-night session. The introduction to terminology and business concepts will be extremely helpful as participants move forward with additional entrepreneurship training.”

Those interested in attending should contact Glenna Ervin at (573) 651-2929.

The second program offered in Iron County is called Operation Jump-Start. The six-week course, which has already assisted in the creation or expansion of over 200 small business in Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois, teaches participants essential small business planning and preparation skills with practical applications. It will also take place at the Public Health Department conference room, and will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings only starting March 15.

The Operation Jump-Start course allows graduates to compete for micro-enterprise grants (up to $5,000) after completion of course requirements. East Missouri Action Agency of Park Hills is partnering with the CIE to offer the seed capital for this entrepreneurial project.

Janey Radford, EMAA Community Resource Development Specialist, said, “I think that the real path to economic recovery for our communities begins with taking action. It is exciting to see a rural county like Iron searching for ways to promote and support their businesses and to recognize that encouraging entrepreneurial growth falls into that category.”

If you would like to be considered for Operation Jump-Start in Iron County or would like more information, contact Tonya Boyer at (573) 546-3191 at the Iron County EMAA office no later than Feb. 15 or Susan Sterling at the CIE at (573) 651-2286 for information and an application.

Funding for Operation Jump-Start in Bollinger County is provided by the CIE, the Delta Regional Authority and through funding received by the EMAA from a community service block grant. Local supporting partners include the Iron County Chamber of Commerce, the Taum Sauk Fund and the Public Health Department.

The CIE is one of the most comprehensive entrepreneurship-focused university centers in the Midwest, offering a wide array of academic and outreach programs and services, including: innovation development and research; entrepreneurship education, training and mentorship; and business incubation and development services. The CIE supports Southeast Missouri State University’s strategic priority to advance the region’s economic appeal and strength by accelerating local and regional economic growth and development that improves the quality of lives, communities and businesses in southeast Missouri and the surrounding region.

For more information about the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial support services it offers, call (573) 651-2929 or visit www.semo.edu/cie.

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